​Are You Considering Ingrown Toenail Surgery?
Many people find the thought of ingrown toenail removal scary, but what to do if you experience extreme discomfort in a toe or if you note pus, redness, or the inflamed skin spreading wider around the corner or side of the nail jabbing into your soft flesh? The simple answer is to see one of our Camberwell Medical Group qualified doctors, especially if you have a foot sore, infection, diabetes, or a condition that causes restricted blood flow to your feet.
One of our medical practitioners will help relieve the pain and discomfort, treat the spread of infection, and help you avoid the complications an ingrown toenail may cause, so make an appointment sooner rather than later.
Don't Suffer The Pain Of An Ingrown Toenail
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If homegrown remedies have not made a difference, we will diagnose the problem based on a physical examination of the nail, the skin surrounding it, and your symptoms.
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Your doctor may lift a slightly ingrown nail edge and place a gutter splint, dental floss, or cotton underneath the nail to separate it from the skin. Doing so may result in the offending nail growing above the skin in approximately two to 12 weeks if you follow their advice on taking care of it at home.
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Alternatively, your health practitioner may put cotton coated with a waterproof fixing solution that keeps it in place beneath, pull the skin away from the nail with tape, or numb the toe and trim or remove the affected part. Your toenail should grow back within two to four months.
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The option for a severe case - or when the problem repeatedly occurs on the same toe - is to numb the area and remove a section of the nail and the underlying tissue chemically, with a laser, or another method, which may result in the nail not growing back. We can permanently prevent the recurrence of the concern if we follow the surgical path.
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What Happens After Toenail Removal?
Ingrown toenail removal entails minor surgery, which is painless for the most part. You could experience slight discomfort during the first week but return to normal activities within a few days if you follow the doctor’s orders. We may prescribe a pain reliever, and you could apply a wet compress for a few minutes daily until the swelling goes down. Elevating and resting the foot for 12 to 24 hours can relieve tenderness.
Feel free to shower the day after, but do not put the toe in a hot tub or go swimming until we tell you it’s okay to do so at your follow-up appointment. We hope you realise now that it is not so bad after all.
